“Yeah,” I say out loud. “I kissed Jane.” I’m assured that this is where I need to be, and I’m not someone who fucking cowers. But there are plenty of times I wish I would’ve taken a step back rather than barrel forward and rip myself up in barbed wire.
But this isn’t even close to a regret.
Maximoff thinks hard for a second, and more silence weighs the room down.
“For practice,” Jane reminds them.
Farrow pops a bubble in his mouth. “Is that what Cobalts call it?”
Jane knots her robe tighter. “We call everything what it should be. An orange is an orange. Your eyes are brown, and a practice kiss is simply a practice kiss.”
I sweep her with more concern.
She’s getting stressed, and they should be able to tell as much as I can. I’ve never seen Maximoff or Farrow actively be a roadblock in her life. Only support. And even now, they quickly back off.
“Fair enough,” Farrow says easily.
Worry infiltrates her big blue eyes, and she looks between Maximoff and Farrow. “You’re both supposed to help us with fake dating, not be a wedge—”
“I’m not wedging ,” Maximoff interjects, hurt in his voice at the idea of putting any distance between her and him. “I’m just letting Thatcher know that we know that he knows what’s happening here.”
I’m not sure what he’s talking about other than the fact that they know I kissed Jane…and that I can’t cross a boundary.
Farrow puts in his obsidian spear earring. “That could’ve used ten times more clarity, but D-minus for the effort.”
Maximoff grimaces. “It’s called A for effort.”
“You’re more like a D-minus, wolf scout.”
His face falls blank. “Thank you for that inaccurate grading scale.”
“Anytime.”
Maximoff groans in the back of his throat, and Jane turns more to me, stepping nearer. Only a few feet away now.
She skims my black button-down and the gold horns that are back around my neck. And then we lock eyes for a hot beat.
“Thatcher,” she says like we missed our routine greeting. “It’s good to see you. Um…you look well.” Confidence bleeds through her breezy voice, despite the pause.
Heat gathers in my fucking lungs.
Instantly, I remember yesterday—I remember her breathless noise against my mouth, my hands gripping her firmly against my strong build, and her soft thighs wrapped around my waist, clinging tighter and tighter.
Wanting more.
Aching.
And I couldn’t satiate her full desire and my fucking hunger. Good thing. It’s a good thing I didn’t overstep, but for some reason, it’s tearing me up.
Come on.
I put a hand to my radio and remember why the hell I exist here in the first place.
Her safety. “Jane…” I want to tell her she looks good too, but I should just get to the point. “You have an announcement.”
“Right, yes.” She arches her shoulders in preparation for the big reveal.
Maximoff and Farrow concentrate solely on her.
“So,” she says, “you three are the most important people in my life right now. My best friend.” She waves to Maximoff. “My best friend’s fiancé.” She waves to Farrow. “And my bodyguard—bold-hyphenation fake boyfriend.” She smiles at me.
“Bold-hyphenation,” Farrow repeats with raised brows. “Shit, what’s next, eighteen point font and parentheses?”
Jane rocks on the tips of her toes. “Funny, but no, there is simply just bold-hyphenation happening.” Her lips fall into a serious line, and all humor dies.
What’s this about?
“My announcement,” she continues, “is that I’ve chosen a career. I may be a passionless human being, but I will no longer be aimless.”
This is a big deal.
Whether or not she likes this job, she’ll throw herself into it with as much drive as she thinks she has to possess. Just in order to live up to the Cobalt name.
It’s a lot of pressure.
Jane looks to Maximoff. “You remember how those publishers have been contacting me since college?”
Publishers. My mind immediately jumps to celebrity tell-alls. But I can’t see her doing that, especially not as a job.
Maximoff is as rigid as a brick wall. Nothing out of the ordinary. “What publishers? There were tons, Janie.”
“The ones with the fiction imprints,” she answers, and then looks to me and Farrow. “They’ve requested that I narrate a few of their novels for audio. And I’ve finally accepted.” She continues briskly like she’s nervous about our reactions. “Celebrity narrators are very popular, and since my little sister adores romance, I figured that I’d kill two birds with one stone. Make her immensely happy by narrating her favorite genre and have a steady job.” She claps her hands. “Any questions?”
Security issues: there aren’t many. It’s not a career that’ll put her safety at risk. “Where will you record the audio?” I ask.
“There isn’t enough space in the townhouse to set up any kind of recording booth, so I’ll have to go into a studio.”
Maximoff frowns. “I thought most celebrities narrate classics and children’s books?”
“They do. But I was offered romance.” To me, Jane adds, “And, when I’m not recording, we can do things that normal couples do or whatever security has planned for us.”
Do not have sex with Jane Cobalt.
I nod, about to reply, but Maximoff interjects, “We need to talk alone.” He’s staring right at me.
I don’t hesitate. “Alright.”
“Right now.” He’s already putting away the straight razor.
“Moffy,” Jane warns. “I thought we just said—”
“This isn’t a wedge,” Maximoff cuts in quickly, wiping off his jaw. “I just need to clear some things up with Thatcher.”
I have no fucking idea what he’s going to ask.
Farrow frowns, also confused, and Maximoff sends his fiancé a look that says, I’ll tell you later.
He nods, accepting.
I back out of the bathroom. “Where do you want me?” I ask him but I check on Jane. Half a reflex, half a—who am I fucking kidding ; it’s mostly a desire. She’s whispering with Farrow.
“My room.”
We stand in the middle of his hot attic bedroom. Warm lights wrapped around the ceiling rafters, and as he clenches his jaw, his cheekbones like knives.
I’m prepared for hell from Maximoff.
If he still wants to punch me because I punched Farrow—I’d open my arms and let him. Hundred times over. He can even throw kicks in.
But something in my gut says that’s not where we’re headed.
“I should’ve done this a long time ago.” Maximoff carries himself like he’s my age or older, even though he’s five years younger. “But out of respect for Farrow, I didn’t get into it with you. Now that you’re about to become a significant part of Jane’s life, I need you to tell me something.”
I nod, not breaking eye contact.
“Farrow isn’t going to ask because he’ll tell you he doesn’t care, but I care about him and Jane. And having a clearer picture about who you are makes a difference to me.”
He’s giving me one of the biggest privileges and letting me—trusting me to exist in the center of his world among people he loves.
I have to honor that the best I can. “What do you need to know?” A huge part of me is worried my answers won’t be enough for Maximoff.
“Were you upset that Farrow was assigned to my mom?”
He’s going that far back. I rub my tensed jaw, thinking. “At the time, I thought my brother was a better fit for Lily. Your mom is one of the hardest people to protect.” Because of the crowds , which Maximoff knows. She’s that popular in the media.
Farrow was fresh blood at the time. Brand new to security. I thought Lily needed someone with more experience.
Maximoff gestures to my chest. “So it upset you when Farrow got her detail and not Banks?”